This page has many links to websites that will provide you with more information on service learning. Next to each link is an annotation of what you will find at that site.
Why Reflect? “We do not learn from doing, we learn from thinking about what we do. Research shows that reflection has some positive impact on the attitudes of volunteers regarding service.”
“Reflection is a crucial part of community service, which allows volunteers to look back on, think critically about, and learn from their service experience. Reflection may include acknowledging and/or sharing of reactions, feelings, observations, and ideas about anything regarding the activity.”From the Northwest Service Academy, Metro Center, Portland, OR Reflections can happen in many ways including writing (journals, poems, essays, and stories), speaking, artwork, acting, music, slideshows, video or movie making – really any other way you can imagine. At TCS over the course of a year our students will have many opportunities for service. At least once each year please collect a hard copy of each student’s reflection. They will be filed in Elmore Library and when a student leaves TCS they will be presented with their cumulative reflections showing the many wonderful things they did to help others while they were students here.
In an effort to guide the reflections we would like to propose a model that no matter what method of reflection is used students reflect using the same essential questions: What did you do? How did you feel? What did you learn?
Here are sample student reflection sheets that can either be used as is or changed to meet the needs of your class or project:
Dr. David Wangaard visited with us at TCS in the past. He is with The School for Ethical Education. That website has a lot of great information and ideas. The page on the website that relates to service learning is a particularly good resource. Start on this page then check the resources link there: http://www.ethicsed.org/programs/yes/index.htm
Click on this link for GoToServiceLearning.org. You can search lesson plans for service learning submitted by other teachers.
Another good site Learn and Serve American's National Service Learning Clearninghouse.
The three stages of service learning:
- Preparation – researching and planning projects; team building to get ready
- Action – implementing the project
- Reflection/Celebration – making time for meaningful thinking about what was done and sharing that in some way
Here is the Service Learning Stages Planning Sheet:Why Reflect?
“We do not learn from doing, we learn from thinking about what we do. Research shows that reflection has some positive impact on the attitudes of volunteers regarding service.”
“Reflection is a crucial part of community service, which allows volunteers to look back on, think critically about, and learn from their service experience. Reflection may include acknowledging and/or sharing of reactions, feelings, observations, and ideas about anything regarding the activity.” From the Northwest Service Academy, Metro Center, Portland, OR
Reflections can happen in many ways including writing (journals, poems, essays, and stories), speaking, artwork, acting, music, slideshows, video or movie making – really any other way you can imagine.
At TCS over the course of a year our students will have many opportunities for service. At least once each year please collect a hard copy of each student’s reflection. They will be filed in Elmore Library and when a student leaves TCS they will be presented with their cumulative reflections showing the many wonderful things they did to help others while they were students here.
In an effort to guide the reflections we would like to propose a model that no matter what method of reflection is used students reflect using the same essential questions:
What did you do? How did you feel? What did you learn?
Here are sample student reflection sheets that can either be used as is or changed to meet the needs of your class or project: